Zephaniah 3:12 (WEB)

Passage

But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.

Nearby Context

Zephaniah 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.

Zephaniah 3:11 In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings, in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain.

Zephaniah 3:12 But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.

Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”

Zephaniah 3:14 Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "leave", "afflicted", "poor", "people", "take", "refuge", "yahweh", and "name". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "leave" and "afflicted", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "In that day you will not be..." into verse 13's "The remnant of Israel will not do...", so "leave" and "afflicted" belong inside that flow. In Zephaniah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "leave" and "afflicted" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.